Bashed by Rush Limbaugh, Law Student Gets Support from President Obama, Hundreds of Law Profs

Personally attacked by conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh for expressing her views about contraception in testimony in a Congressional hearing, a third-year law student at Georgetown University has been supported not only by hundreds of law professors but the Oval Office.

In a phone call today, President Barack Obama told Sandra Fluke he was sorry she had been targeted for the comments, according to a White House spokesman. Jay Carney also called Limbaugh’s remarks, in which the radio talk host reportedly called her a slut, a prostitute and suggested she make a sex tape of herself, reprehensible, the Associated Press reports.

Fluke, who took the president’s call as she was about to appear on the MSNBC program Andrea Mitchell Reports, choked up afterward as she recounted the conversation to Mitchell.

“What was really personal for me was that he said to tell my parents that they should be proud,” said Fluke. “And that meant a lot because Rush Limbaugh questioned whether or not my family would be proud of me. So I just appreciated that very much.”

A public statement of support for Fluke by the Georgetown Law community has also been joined by hundreds of law professors from other schools, according to the Legal Profession Blog.

Rewarded with “the basest sort of name-calling and vilification, words that aim only to belittle and intimidate,” in response for her legitimate advocacy for her views, Fluke responded with “strength and face in the face of them,” the statement says in part.

Others from a number of locations and political camps also rallied to Fluke’s support, including a bipartisan group of New York women lawmakers, who called for Limbaugh to apologize, according to the Albany Times-Union’s Capitol Confidential blog.

“Whether you agree or disagree with the testimony of Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke, Rush Limbaugh’s comments are outrageous and offensive and have no place in civil discourse.You can express your opinions on government-mandated contraception without demeaning an entire gender,” said Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis in a written statement provided to the newspaper. She is a Republican.

Critics also are calling for advertisers to pull their support from Limbaugh’s programming, the AP article says.

Additional coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Limbaugh Bashes 3L for Backing Contraceptive Coverage; She Fires Back for his ‘Attack on All Women’”